Legislative Efforts

The 2015 Iowa Legislative Session

The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association has adopted policy on many issues, but will especially focus on key issues during the 87th General Assembly of the Iowa Legislature.

Increased funding for Iowa’s rural road infrastructure – Both bridges and roads that are traveled regularly by Iowa farmers managing their livestock and crop operations need attention. There have been continuous delays in addressing the shortfall in transportation infrastructure, and this has increased the costs to make necessary repairs and improvements.

ICA will support efforts that fairly treat farm businesses and guarantee substantial dollars will be directed to the improvement of farm roads and bridges. Any dollars that come from new taxes on fuel for farm production should be returned 100% to rural road infrastructure.

Increased funding for the ISU Ag Experiment Stations – There are over 750 active research projects underway at the Iowa State University Ag Experiment Stations around the state. This research is the basis for many farm management issues that help all Iowa, including efforts to protect the water as well as new management practices that improve livestock production. ICA supports the ISU request for an increase in its budget of $1.038 million.

Secure funding for the ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Lab – This facility is one of the crucial links for evaluating and controlling livestock diseases in Iowa. In order to best prepare those veterinarians that are responsible for the food supply, ICA is supporting increased funding of $4 million for the lab.

This would include increased funding for Iowa Livestock Health Advisory Council (ILHAC). Currently, ILHAC is allocated just $200,000 to split among pork, dairy, beef, sheep and poultry research projects. ICA wants an increase in this funding to address these priority cattle diseases for Iowa: Trichomoniasis, Digital Dermatitis, Animal Well-being, and Bovine Respiratory Disease/Mycoplasma Bovis.

Trained labor force to work in the beef industry – ICA is asking the Iowa Legislature to support efforts that will increase collaboration between community colleges and post-secondary ag schools to develop curriculum and outcomes that would provide hands-on training for student in cattle production. ICA also supports increasing the skills and numbers of vet tech practitioners who use reproductive ultrasound. The Iowa Legislature can take action to encourage the Iowa Veterinarian Medical Association, the Iowa State University Department of Animal Science, the ISU Vet College, and the Iowa Department of Ag and Land Stewardship to work together in developing reasonable and effective training and certification for vet tech practitioners.

Read how some of the bills that ICA watched in the 2014 session turned out.

The basis for ICA legislative activities

Producers have a voice in setting priorities and developing policy to support Iowa's cattle industry. ICA policies are developed at the ICA Annual Meeting and the policies are taken before the Iowa Legislature or the National Cattlemen's Beef Association Annual Convention. These policies result in new programs, laws or regulations that improve the state and national business climate for the beef industry.